Small-donor political groups that have already pumped more than $1.5 million into this campaign season are ready to dump hundreds of thousands more into state races in the final weeks before the November election, thanks to a new court ruling.

Many of those committees have been stuck in a holding pattern in Colorado since Aug. 2, when Secretary of State Gigi Dennis issued rules requiring them to get written permission from their members before using any of their dues for political activities.

That was a tall order for some of the larger groups, which have thousands of members.

But Denver District Judge John McMullen ruled Friday that Dennis exceeded her authority. He kept the rules in effect through Tuesday in case Dennis’ attorneys – who had not decided their next step Friday – want to appeal.

Barring any other court rulings, politically active groups could resume pumping money into campaigns after that.

“We have money ready to transfer as soon as this is settled,” said Lynne Garramone Mason, who directs government relations for the Colorado Education Association. “The sooner the money is spent as it was intended, the better.”

Her group’s small-donor committee, the Public Education Committee, has $389,000 on ice for candidates, get-out-the-vote efforts and donations to independent political committees.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) had $319,000 in its small-donor account as of Sept. 1. The Denver Classroom Teachers Association Fund and Jefferson County Education Association had $125,000 and nearly $40,000, respectively.

Boost for Democrats

Those funds could make a real difference for Democrats, who are generally on the receiving end of union contributions.

“I can see another $1 million total from those groups going into races with direct mail and getting-out-the-vote efforts, and that will make an impact,” said Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli.

Republican lawyer Scott Gessler, who had been one of three attorneys who proposed the disputed rule, said he too could see another $1 million loaded into campaigns – and shot directly at GOP candidates.

“The unions have a lot of money to throw a lot of mud at a lot of walls,” he said.

Small-donor committees do not have to identify contributors of less than $20. Many unions transfer portions of membership dues into the committees, and the names are not disclosed.

Small-donor committees can receive up to $50 per contributor but are allowed to give 10 times as much to candidates as can individuals.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter has received a number of donations from the committees, which can each give him up to $10,000.

And many Colorado statehouse candidates have already received the maximum $4,000 they can get.

Giving to 527 groups

Another advantage union groups have is their ability to give to so-called 527 groups, which can raise and spend money without limits. Those organizations are prohibited from using corporate or labor money 60 days before the election for “electioneering communications,” such as television ads. But small-donor committees established by corporate or labor organizations are exempt.

Already, groups like the SEIU and the Public Education Committee have given $150,000 and $66,667, respectively, to Citizens for Colorado, a Democratic group funded by millionaires Rutt Bridges, Pat Stryker and Tim Gill.

The Colorado Professional Fire Fighters small-donor committee has given $25,000 to Moving Colorado Forward, a Democratic group, and the Colorado State Conference of Electrical Workers has given $12,500 to the Colorado Democratic Senate Campaign fund.

Mason of the Colorado Education Association said donor committees are a way for “small people” to pool their money to have a voice in elections.

“It’s a way for a group of teachers to be heard as much as a Coors or Xcel,” she said.

Small-donor groups

Eight small-donor committees have raised a total of more than $1.5 million in anonymous donations and contributed $1.5 million to candidates and political committees since Oct. 1. They include:

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